Port buys rail line, city prepares for train service

After a decade, a train may
be returning to Snohomish, Wash., by next summer, the Snohomish County Tribune
reports. The Port of Seattle purchased the Eastside rail corridor Dec. 21 from BNSF
in a deal totaling $81 million. The purchase covers 42 miles of rail line from
Renton to Snohomish.

The move means GNP Railway
now has a six-month deadline to start a tourist train service from Woodinville's
wine country to Snohomish's historic district. GNP was selected earlier by the
port to operate the rail line. Where the train would end its route for
Snohomish is not yet official. It is anticipated the excursion train would
terminate its run on State Street between Pearl and Rainier streets. Other options
assumed by the city are south of the Snohomish River near Harvey Field.

The city "is working with
GNP to determine where passenger facilities and other improvements would best
serve the tourist train, which is anticipated initially to operate on weekends
with either one or two trains per day," according to a city press release.

The Centennial Trail would
run parallel to the tracks, per city plans.

Neighbors near one
suggested site at State Street between Pearl and Rainier streets raised concerns
the train would stop right outside their backyards. City leaders also raised
concerns that freight and passenger service could run through town. The city
hired an attorney in the fall and met multiple times in executive session to
learn the city's rights with regards to railway laws.

GNP's Tom Payne has long
said freight use is his first priority, but he has no interest in running
freight trains through Snohomish. There are no freight customers to serve north
of the city, he said. GNP, working with the Ballard Terminal Railroad Co.,
will take over BNSF's freight contract Jan. 8, port spokeswoman Charla Skaggs
said.

"I believe the city has
determined that we have the legal ability to control how passenger rail
services would occur inside the city," City Manager Larry Bauman said. "However,
it is clear that no local jurisdictions have significant controls over freight
services."

The port's acquisition came
after multiple deadlines were missed because of a weak municipal bond market.
In November, the port said it now has six partners involved in the purchase.
Those partners will pitch in money later, Skaggs said last week.

The last time a train came
through town was in 1998 when BNSF ended service to the Central Feed Mill, now
the location of the Snohomish Library on Maple Avenue, according to the city's
Snohomish Riverfront Master Plan. In Snohomish's railroading heyday, there were
three major railroad companies serving the city, local railroad historian Bob
Heirman said.